Looking At Gaston Santos
While he may not be well-known to the English speaking world, Gaston Santos is recognized throughout Latin America and Europe, in regard to a number of different professions. Primarily he was known and is still recognized as a rejoneador, a bullfighter who fights the animals not on foot, but entirely on horseback. From the late 1950s until the late 1970s, he was recognized as the best in his trade, appearing in Mexico, Spain, and Portugal on a regular basis. Even those who were not fond of bullfighting went to these events, especially along the Mexican-American bordertowns such as Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales, to see him in action. His horses were frankly, bigger stars than he was, and it was the chance to see these wonderfully-trained animals in action that pulled the people in.
Santos made a fortune from bullfighting, not that he needed to, being the son of a wealthy politician in the Mexican province of San Luis Potosi. It was love for the trade that drove him into the bullring, rather than need, in “the poor boy finds riches in front of the bulls,” so often used in older films like Blood & Sand.
Which brings us to his film career.
During the 1960s, a host of professional wrestlers such as Blue Demon, El Santo and Mil Mascaras, were expanding their careers. Capitalizing on their fame as grapplers, they entered the acting realm and made several films, sometimes individually, sometimes together. Wearing their masks, they faced all types of villains, ranging from monsters to spies. More often than not, the wrestlers were portrayed as superheroes, Batman-types who wrestled by night and fought crime by day. While the people loved these projects, most were tacky, silly and shot on a budget which would have made Ed Wood Jr. look like a millionaire.
As one of Mexico’s major bullfighting stars, Santos figured he would jump on the band wagon and while the original intention was to use him in western movies, thus enabling him to show off his horses, utilize his skills as a rider and benefit from acting in movies which complimented his pre-existing skills, such was not to be the case. More often than not, he found himself in horror films, much like his wrestling counterparts. These movies did little to enhance his career, but the parts just kept coming.
Nowadays, it is extremely hard to find some of these films, especially English versions, though some do exist. They are, for the most part, the tacky things you’d see on Elvira shows or something along that line. As an actor, well…Gaston santos was a very good bullfighter.
The Living Coffin was one of his “best” (i.e. most recognized) adventures, in which he played the starring role. The film, however, left a little to be desired, centering around a Poe-like theme, dealing with phobias, premature burials and madness. The less said otherwise, the better.
Other Gaston Santos films which were at one time translated into English and may still be found someplace, for those taking the time to look, include The Black Pits Of Dr. M, The Scream Of Death, The Swamp Of Lost Souls and a few more which slip this writer’s mind at the moment. In short, they might well fit into the interests of visitors to this page, interested in “pulp films” or those you will never see nominated for an oscar!
As a person, Gaston Santos is still fascinating. He lives back in San Luis Potosi, where he and his sons operate a horse ranch, breeding high quality animals for films, riding and the bullring. He also operates a bull ranch called Palma Cerrada (the name is an inside joke, meaning “tight-fisted” or “economical”…Santos had a reputation for being frugal, in spite of his vast fortune, which evidently still holds true). This ranch has been around for a long while and was established well before Santos retired from both the bullring and film. Often he would offer promoters a package deal to perform, bringing himself, his horses and his own bulls to face in certain bullrings.
When I met him firsthand in Nogales, I was amazed by the fact he spoke 8 languages. Not only did he know English, French, Portuguese and the like, but also spoke certain African dialects, picked up from trips to Africa when very young and big game hunting was still allowed.
While a legendary bullfighter in his day, he was not a magnificent actor (Like Santo, Blue Demon, Mil Mascaras or others who tried to make the jump from sports to the big screen were…or for that matter..are!) Still, few people ever criticized his films because he was so popular in other realms, so much loved by the public, that the movies were embraced in spite of their flaws. Now, no longer being as much in the limelight, I am sure the younger generation laughs at these flicks when they crop up, but the audience at the time of their release always flocked to see them. Amazingly, some theatres saw long lines for these in the 1960s.
Again, Gaston Santos was in many ways, a Mexican institution…and still is. He wasn’t much of an actor though, but an all-around good guy, with a load of charisma.
Saturday 04 Jan 2003 | Dale Pierce | Profiles
I knew Gaston from my association with Charlie Miller on Rancho Santa Clara, Tamuin. His ranch there was one of if not the best I’d ever seen. I now reside in Australia and would like to be able to contact Gaston? I visit Guadalajara annually. Can you help?
Jack Fletcher, Perth, Australia
You may be able to contact him via his ranch.
Good luck.
reply……gaston santos is my cousin though i have never met him he is my second cousin / first cousin to my grandgfather william e boyd. I thought yall might like to know interesting info. Gaston and i talk on e-mail few times
I was just checking to see if you were still alive, I met you in the Zona Rosa in about 1958, you took me to Acapulco and later you dumped me, I left the ace of spades on your door, you were to have fight before the Pres of Mexico the next day. You painted at that time,I was a free spirit in a way, you asked to meet me, I was humiliated when you dumped me, you were the first person to point out that I was poor, old suitcase, camera..you even offered to buy me new clothes. Once I opened your closet door and foud a large group of womens pictures, in the act of kissing you…do you still have mine. Anyway, I am glad that you are alive and well, best wishes Carol..did not wear makeup, wore self designed dresses and sandles, studyed dance with Oscar Tarriba and went t Mexico city College. I am sure you still do not know who I am, your body guard hated me…
Solamente queria salidar a Gaston Santos si aun vive
y desearle bienestar y salud
Fun
Alfredo Esparza
La pelicula que mas me impresiono en mi vida fue “El grito de la muerte”, la segunda mas miedosa fue el “El Exorcista”
Como esta el senor Gaston Santos, saludos
Quieisera saludar a Gastón Santos. No me ha impresionado tanto una película como en mi infacia lo hizo el grito de la muerte. Tengo ahora cincuenta años. La ví en mi pueblo Lliria (Valencia) España en 1964 cuando tenía 8 años.
Quisiera me indicarna como obtener copias por medio de dvd o vídeo de vhs de las películas que protagonizó Gastón Santos, el grito de la muerte, el pantano de las ánimas, la flecha envenenada, el potro salvaje. José Romero Moros.-
I have all but the silent one. Have been a big fan of Gaston Santos since I was a boy.
Best wishes to Goston & his family.
Javier
Hola mi nombre es Claudia y me gustaria conseguir las peliculas de Gaston Santos. Me podrian por favor informar en donde puedo conseguirlas?
I am william boyds grandson. I am told many stories of Gaston as he is my grandfathers cousin. I am his cousin i guess in the 3rd cousin way. I have never met gaston however the stories I have been told of about him have long made me dream. I did contact him one time by e-mail and was very surprised he typed in english. I have not been able to contact him since. I guess I should get his number from grandpa. If anyone can tell me information or stoies on him please e-mail me at marlboro424@juno.com
Hi!!!
My dad is a fan of Gaston Santos and after watching Mysterios de ultratumba,great movie and story i’m also his fan.My dad mentioned other movies like El panteon de las animas,I would like to find more of his movies. If anyone can help me find these movies.
I would appreciate it.
Thank you!
Hi If anyone has some info of where i could find “El grito de la muerte”, “El Pantano de las animas”, “La flecha envenenada”,”El potro salvaje” you can e mail me minahcazares@yahoo.com.
Thank you.
Fans of Gaston Santos, try general@spanishmultimedia.com
That is were I found most of his films.
Good Luck!
Boy, I was so in love with this man. . . and I was only 5 yrs old when I first saw one of his movies back in 1981!!
What ever happened to Rayo de Plata??
sr gaston santos,tenia yo nueve anos de edad cuando vi su pelicula.el pantano de las animas,tanto me impresion que jamas la olvide.(la pelicula)Hoy para mi mayor sorpreza encontre la pelicula ,el pantano de de las animas en una tienda Best Buy de Fresno Ca. Al verla a ver,la disfrute tanto como hace 50 anos.Muchas gracias por los recuerdos attentamente jose valenzuela
He estado en su rancho de Tamuin varias veces y es un excelente anfirtión.A parte de ser el preferido entre los rejoneadores.
Saludos a la afición!!!
Hola Gaston!!!
Nada mas para saludar y ver como esta usted y su familia.
Le voy a mandar a mi madre (Norma Molinar) esta pagina!
Muchos saludos!
HOLA SENOR GASTON QUERIA SALUDARLO Y SABER DE USTED PUES BINO A MI RECUERDO DE NINES PLATICANDO CON FAMILIARES HASERCA DE SUS PELICULAS Y NOS GUSTARIA SABER MAS ASERCA DE USTED Y SU FAMILIA SIEMPRE DESEANDO LO MEJOR Y CON MUCHOS DECEOS DE BOLBER A BERLE ESPERO TENER CONTESTASION PARA SABER DE USTED
Greetings,
I was thrilled to know that people still remember Gaston Santos from his acting & bullfighting careers. I knew most of his aunts and Wilson, his uncle, and of course his Grandmother and her sister (Tia Ester). I was a frequent visitor at his Aunt Ruth (Chedes’) house and in fact, have several photos taken with her. Julie was one of Mr. Santos’ first cousins that was a good friend of my moms…and I also have some photos of them together. This pictures are from the early 1960s.
I am fortunate to have a couple of his films on DVD and still enjoy watching them. Too bad these films are not shown on some of the Spanish-speaking networks. Thanks for the fond memories.